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The Undeniable Mark of Conviction
Decidedly militant in style, Galatians has been compared to a mountain stream rushing downward in full flow. The description is a good one. The language of Galatians is certainly passionate and strong; and the words, crisp and full of life. There are examples of shock – “I marvel,” writes Paul, “that you are so soon removed” (Galatians 1.6). He calls them “foolish Galatians” (Galatians 3.1). And for them he is very fearful (Galatians 4.11). How he wishes he could be with them again (Galatians 4.20). The tone throughout is ardent, marked by unfinished phrases, and bold paradoxes. The paragraph describing his confrontation at Jerusalem is very abrupt; irregular – written with such intense style as to suggest what happened there was still happening inside of Paul. And he could not forget (Galatians 2.1-10). Luther is right; this letter breathes tears.
Galatia formed the central plateau of Asia Minor. It was one of the frontier provinces of the Roman empire – comparatively large in area and vastly rich in history. Its boundaries were irregular and often varied for Galatia was a mixture of peoples and regions. It was here that Paul preached in several cities – cities such as Antioch, Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra. The gospel was received, but not without opposition.
The churches in Galatia were because of Paul. He personally preached the gospel there; many of the Galatians may have been baptized by him. It was almost by chance that he went there. He was ill, and needed to recuperate; but the Galatians did not find him repulsive. His illness did not prevent them from becoming Christians (Galatians 4.13-14). They respected and admired Paul. But something happened after he left – something so serious that caused him to be alarmed.
I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Galatians 4.11
The danger was real enough. There were former Pharisees who had become Christians, and their views are summarized in Acts 15.1. Even so, the Galatians were dispirited and seriously troubled (Galatians 5.12). Love had given way to vicious infighting and quarreling (Galatians 5.15).
If judged by its size, Galatians might seem unimportant – perhaps, even trivial. It is one of the shorter epistles of Paul, and as literature, it would certainly go unnoticed for style and beauty. Galatians is a personal letter, simply written with a sense of directness. And this is characteristic of the New Testament epistles as a whole. The epistles are letters – not literature, but their impact is far-reaching. Profound. Lasting.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Galatians 5.6
The central theme of Galatians is the difference between law and gospel. This difference, of course, is quite crucial. For if the gospel is nothing more than revised law, then Christianity is nothing more than revised Judaism. And Christians are but proselytes. There were those who lived in the first century that agreed, and strongly promoted such a view. Galatians answers such thinking. It is the defense of the gospel, and an explanation as to why law is inadequate.
Written from the heart and in his own handwriting (Galatians 6.11), Paul eloquently expresses that the conflict is real, constant and within. It is either Spirit or flesh. Each so opposes the other that however we may choose, we are faced with such a dilemma (Galatians 5.16-18). And this civil war lasts throughout our entire life. But if we persist in our efforts to walk by the Spirit, the flesh can be dealt with.
This we are assured.
And as for Paul – his body bears the mark of his loyalty to Christ (Galatians 6.17). There can be no question as to where he stands.
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6.14
Both he and the world are crucified – he to the world and the world to him. It is a double crucifixion. It is also the undeniable mark of conviction. And such conviction is what the Judaizers lacked.
What about us? Do we even today bear the mark of conviction? Is it lacking in our lives? Make no mistake about it -- understanding Galatians helps us to better understand the gospel and what it means. It also provides us the strength to live as Christians must live.
